On the 5th Sunday of Easter the Gospel we read at Mass comes from John 15, and reminds us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. They are Gospel passages that most of us have heard many times before, so we often need a fresh angle to think about it with before His words touch our hearts.

One of the priests from our deanery helped that happen recently with the John 14 passage that is frequently chosen at funerals. Jesus tells us there are many rooms in our Father's house. When this Gospel passage came up with a group of school children, the priest asked them how many bedrooms there were in their own houses. The biggest number was 7. If so, it would have to be a mansion of a place. How many bedrooms would a big city hotel have? At least a hundred, and maybe many more. Our Father's house must be quite something, mustn't it?

In a similar way we have heard Jesus proclaim, 'Cut off from Me you can do nothing' John 15:6, many times. Jesus said it, so we believe Him, even if we don't fully understand Him.

It took a category 2 cyclone, unusual for our part of the world, for me to gain a greater perspective on John 15:6. During that big storm we lost electric power for around 20 hours. How easy it is for us to forget how dependent we are on electricity!

Without electricity you can't recharge your devices.Without electricity the wi-fi, tv and computers won't work (and laptops when the battery runs out).Without electricity you can't heat things up or cool them down.Without electricity it isn't long before cold showers are the order of the day.Without electricity you cannot do any work at night that requires more than candlelight.But you can pray, read, talk, paint, darn, snooze, write on paper, but not much else.Compared to what you can do with electricity, what you can do without electricity is puny.

Likewise it is easy for us to forget how dependent we are on Jesus. He has far more of an impact in our lives than electricity does.

Who helps us turn away from sin and seek to live according to the Gospel? JesusWho gives us the power to pray? JesusWho helps us forgive those who have hurt us? JesusWho shows us God's will for our lives, and helps us to follow it? JesusWho helps us make sense of the illness and suffering in our lives? JesusWho assures us of God's love? JesusWho is the source of peace? JesusWho frees us from addictions? JesusWho gives us courage and encouragement? JesusWho helps us remain faithful to our promises? JesusWho can reconcile us to those we are estranged from? JesusWho enables us to understand the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures? JesusWho made forgiveness possible for us sinners? JesusWho opened the gates of eternal life? JesusCompared to what you can do with Jesus, what you can do without Him is puny, a mere nothing.Reflect upon what St Francis of Assisi accomplished with Jesus.Reflect upon what St Patrick accomplished with Jesus.Reflect upon what St Mother Teresa of Calcutta accomplished with Jesus.Reflect upon what St John Bosco accomplished with Jesus.

Let us then make a commitment to connect with Jesus in our lives, so that His power can flow through us. Let us pray daily. Let us pray with others. Let us learn more about Him. Let us connect with others who are connected to Jesus. Let us discover how He wants us to use His power in service to others, and start doing it.

Mary, Mother of Jesus, who connected to Jesus more than anyone else, please pray for us that we may remain in Him and that He may remain in us. John 15:5.